The Dickinson press., 1887-07-09
"And you will be true to me, Rosem

lovers had heard Gerald,s footsteps approach
ing.
II shall tell him, Rose" Whispered her
lover. ale ought to know!'' and She nodded
her bright head i'll assent
Hamilton retained her hand in his, and
Gerald stood within the room looking on, and
then would have turned away, but Sylvester
was quickly by his side
"Old friend,' he said with feeling, "Rose
has promised to be my wife, We have both
loved her, but only one of us could win her.
Had she chosen you, would have done my
best to wish You joy from my heart Gerald,
DO not let this break our friendship" and he
held out his hand warmly
u cannot take it-yet," said Gerald
brokenly II have loved Rose moro than you
have; would never have deserted her us you
did, Hamilton Sylvester"
II love him for his spiritm cried the girl;
u am so proud of his being ready and willing
to fight for his country, and can enter into
the feelings of the Roman mothers who so
bravcly sent their beloved ones to battle,
cheering them on with their heart stirring
words"
"Thcn 1 will go too!' cried Gerald passion
ately
you! you are not soldier"
NO; am doctor, have taken my de-
gree. l will serve under tho Red Cross:
surgeons are always needed"
"Will vou:" she cried, with flashing eyes.
MY grandfather was n Waterloo hero, and
think his feelings have descended to me.
should be so glad to think of you as being use-
ful to Your fellow men, helping the poor
wounded soldiers, instead of living.a life of
ease IN some country village"
Mr. Sylvester had asked me to he his as
sistant," he said regretfully, "but your wishes
ore my law. Rose, although Your love is
/ given to another, even lo shall not outdo me
in my worship Of YOU"
Poor old boy, you will get over it," she
said, kindly; 'syou have seen so little of the
world yet; there are lots of nice girls in soci-
| ETY.. am, after all, but country pumpkin,
and should mako but poor show in the Lon
don season; and now you two must continue
to be frieuds; my dears, do, do for my sake,'
and she took the right hand of each aud
| Joined them.
with all my heart, said Hamilton warm
ly, and gave him lion like grip.
But there was no pressure from Gernld's
hand
I'LL our next merry meeting" he said, with
an unpleasant smile. "Who knows but NAV
be called upon to dress your wounds, Hamil-
toM!n
"Who indccd,"
"And if You We're, you would be very good
to him, for my sake" said Rose entreatngly.
"Oh! yes. for your sake" lie answered with
meaning, land now good by"
Good by, my frie.id; hope you and Ham
will meet"
II hope we shall; should be glad to be of
use to him."
THAT is my old playmate" said Rose with
n,,fl tpC,, - ~
give you both n safe return" And she
stretched out her hand to him.
"-lmen," said Hamilton Sylvester revcrent-
ly, and accepted the hand which Gerald held
out to him, nor saw the mocking light in his
eyes.
ut were pity we should not part friends"
aai'l Drcring, and left the room without
another word
"Poor old fellow! he is hard hit" said Sill
vcster when the door had closed. ut is rough
Oh him, and an very sorry.'
IL am so glad you parted friends" replied
Rose innocently.
"Do you think we didm asked her lover, q
thoughtful look upon his open face.
"Oh! yes! he said so, did lie not.'
~ hardly know he said so, certainly, but
there was strange ring of i'll will in his
voice"
"le will get over it, Ham; am not such q
paragon that he should wear the willow for
my sake"
II don't know that; but now, sweetheart, 1
must go and ask your father to accept me for
a son; will he mnd very much, Rose.'
"1Ic might, if You had wanted to take mo
away soon," she answered with smile, "but
us it is think he will forgive you"
IL always forsaw it would be either Won or
(rra1l 1lnerip,r Ii,
Wien Hamilton had made his confession;
.and l am glad Rose has decided in your
favor"
So Hamilton Sylvester joined his regiment,
ami went to the wars an engaged man: and
notwithstanding all her brave words, Rose
Mihlniay felt her lovers going very much,
md shed bitter tears Mt parting.
Hamiiton's letters, and the accounts OF tho
campaign, were now her only pleasure, and
her fair checks grew white as the priyet
flower with anxiety.
But there came Il day when both lips and
cheeks grew bloodless, when the beautiful
eyes We're filled with horror, when she sat
with the newspaper III l!er hands, breathless,
specchless, awe struck, dumb with agony.
Her father entered the room and looked at
her, but she never moved, and he knew that
some bitter sorrow and trouble had fallen
upon her. He walked to her side and laid
his hands fondly upon her shoulder.
"My child!' lie said gently, "what has hap
pened''
She lifted those pitful eyes to his,
her lips moved, but no sound issued
from them, md he read the heading of
the column in large letters, announcing the
fearful massacer at Isandula.
"Was Hamilton among them?" lie asked in
n To-" stricken voice.
She raised her bands with pathetic
gesture and pointed out the paragraph which
described lis heroic fight for the colors of his
regiment, which he had wound round his
own body, and which had been taken from
his corpse by doctor named Gerald Deerinc,
when the ghastly scene was over; the savages
little understanding the value to an Eng
lish heart of the blood stained banner, which
now seemed but tattered rag about the
dead mans waist. Thus the account was
given.
Soon after, Gerald Deering was invalided
home, and returned to Danes!iu,st. He
sought Rose, and gave her ring which he
said lie had taken from bis friends finger.
and told her many details concerning her
lovers death.
The girl was never weary of talking Of
Hamilton, and Gerald was very patient
and gentle with her. Little by little she
learned to lean upon him; and little by little
he urged his own suit upon her.
She recoiled from the idea at first, but Us
day by day he mentioned his hopes and love,
she grew accustomed to his words, and the
possibility of accepting him came to her
slowly but surely,
She knew that she should never love him as
she had loved Hamilton Sylvester, but she
believed him to be deeply attached to her,
and she asked herself why she should con-
tinue to make him suffer, when it was in her
power to give him happiness.
Rose had always been fond of chess. and
Gerald, who was now Mr.. Silvester's assistant,
came most evenings to play with her, while
Mr. Mildmay prepared his sermons in his
study.
Tho r.ectcrT- Il reor, 1voo a